Battles outside Rome

N/A Battle of the Siler River Previous: N/A Next: Battle of the Siler River Battle Of Mount Garganus Conflict: Crixus and 3000 rebels Vs. Arrius and Later Crassus forces Date: 72BCE Place: Gates of Rome Outcome: Most combatants including Crixus killed. 500 captured Combatants Rebels Romans Strength 3000 rebels Multiple Legions Casualties 2500 One legion and many of Crassus men
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The Battles outside Rome took place in Separate Paths, between Crixus and his army and Arrius and his legion, and straight after against Crassus and his legions.

Battle

Fist Battle

The battle takes place only a few miles from the city of Rome itself. After Crixus addresses his army, they begin the battle by rolling ignited boulders down a hill towards the soldiers. The rebels fall upon their enemies, devastating the Roman army but suffering many losses as well. Not much of the battle is shown, but the Rebels are the victors. The Roman general Arrius is killed and his pendant is taken as a war trophy.

Second Battle

Crixus is mortally wounded and killed by Tiberius.

Their Victory against Arrius is short lived however, as Crassus and his army come straight from behind and seize another victory from the rebels, along with the life of Crixus.

Outcomes

First Battle

• Rebels victory.
• Arrius is killed by Crixus.

Second Battle

• Roman victory
• Crixus is mortally wounded and decapitated by Tiberius
• Hundreds of rebels are captured including Naevia and Agron (who sustains a heavy wound)
• Hundreds/Thousands of rebels are killed including Brictius, Verenda and Ortius.

Historical context

This battle is based on an historical battle (known as the Battle of Mount Garganus) that occured in mid-72 BC, located near the Garganus Mountains (the modern day sub-region of Gargano) in Apulia, the eastern end of the Italian mainland. The battle was fought a year before Spartacus was defeated by Crassus.

Crixus and his army of around 30,000 rebels were defeated in Apulia by consul Gellius Publicola (along with the historical Arrius). Around 20,000 died in the battle, and the remaining 10,000 escaped Gellius' legions and travelled south, eventually making it back to Spartacus' main army. With these combined forces, Spartacus eventually faced and defeated Gellius and his co-consul Cornelius Lentulus' combined forces.

It is believed that the historic Crixus was also decapitated (although it would've happened after his corpse was found), and his head was possibly used to intimidate Spartacus and his forces later on.